Where things stand through 10 practices in camp
By: Larry Williams & Paul Strelow
The bad news is, Clemson does not yet appear to have resolved its conundrum at the center position.
The good news arguably might be, if that's your only personnel concern on offense midway through August camp, then you're in pretty good shape heading into the season.
First-world problems, as they say.
The focus typically hones in on what you don't have, and make no mistake, center is an important piece to the puzzle. Experience matters; it's not coincidence Clemson has gone with junior and senior starters at the position since 2014.
Hunter Rayburn was in line to be the first redshirt sophomore or younger to regularly do so since Ryan Norton (2013). But our sense is the Tigers wanted to squeeze another level of bite from him this month, and that has not yet gone according to plan.
Four-star true freshman Marcus Tate still appears to be on the fast track to early playing time 10 practices into camp. (Tigerillustrated.com)
Hence incumbent left guard Matt Bockhorst has logged the majority of first-team snaps, which hasn't necessarily been the panacea.
There are other variables upon which Clemson's offensive success depends. Even if freshman Marcus Tate gets plugged in at left guard, there are no guarantees the Tigers' interior trio improves its push up front.
D.J. Uiagalelei has some accuracy inconsistencies to work through and will have his mettle tested amid growing pains or a 2-minute drill along the way. Clemson isn't short on coveted bodies at receiver, yet most bear a question mark as well. So many new faces in new places translates into an offensive identity yet to form.
That said, every team has holes or blemishes.
And you can count on one hand the number who wouldn't trade personnel and eagerly go into this next month armed with Uiagalelei, Justyn Ross, Will Shipley, Kobe Pace et al.
Clemson has avoided any camp injury to date that has changed the offense's complexion.
There's a lot still to come together for this unit. But a lot to like with the ingredients. -- PAUL STRELOW
That's quite the nugget unearthed from Paul about Clemson having not started a redshirt sophomore or younger at center since 2013.
You also have to go back almost that long to find the last time an opener created as much apprehension as this one on Sept. 4.
That would be the home-and-home with Georgia in 2013 and 2014.
Yes, Clemson has had some early-season showdowns during this spectacular run. Texas A&M in 2019 and 2018. Auburn in 2017 and 2016.
But none like this. Georgia is a bona-fide heavyweight (none of the aforementioned opponents were in that class). It's the opener (only Auburn in 2016 was the first game). And it's Georgia (you could argue there's no other program out there Clemson fans despise more at the moment).
Mix all those ingredients into a bowl and you get a stew of rare urgency when it comes to assessing the capabilities of a gifted-but-still-reconstituted offense.
Every year, Tony Elliott says finding an offensive identity is a process as he stresses various players and learns how they respond under the constant camp duress of installation against Brent Venables' defense.
41-year old Tony Elliott has been an assistant coach at Clemson since 2011, taking over as offensive coordinator in 2015. (Tigerillustrated.com)
When the first opponent is Wake Forest, Georgia Tech, Furman or Kent State, that annual formative process is a relative footnote because the margin for error when the lights come on is usually as wide as Lake Hartwell. Against those tomato cans, growing pains aren't painful and it's basically like a preseason game.
One important and perhaps even comforting caveat that we've mentioned recently: Georgia's fans should (and do) have the same angst about how their offense is going to perform against Clemson's defense. Numerous injuries at receiver have them wondering whether they'll be sufficiently dynamic in the passing game right out of the gates. And though Georgia might be more talented than Clemson on the offensive line, there are still big questions there too.
But back to Clemson, we know that the interior offensive line was the biggest weakness on the team last year. And we know that the interior defensive line is the strength of Georgia's team. They are big, nasty and deep. There's just no way around apprehension about that matchup.
The idea of Matt Bockhorst at center sounds good and all as the staff tries to go with the best five, but it's worth noting that Bockhorst got pushed around a lot last year. His injuries last year are important context, and maybe he indeed is a different player now that he's had surgery. Maybe this offensive line will indeed be much different in 2021 now that they are healthier and have better depth.
Their long-term trajectory does appear pointed up, no doubt. But there's that short-term obstacle in Charlotte that tends to shape our current view of this offense and its evolution. -- LARRY WILLIAMS
Tigerillustrated.com will release part 2 (defense) later today.
FROM THE TIGER FAN SHOP: Click HERE for more DEALS on officially-licensed CLEMSON apparel and gear!
By: Larry Williams & Paul Strelow
The bad news is, Clemson does not yet appear to have resolved its conundrum at the center position.
The good news arguably might be, if that's your only personnel concern on offense midway through August camp, then you're in pretty good shape heading into the season.
First-world problems, as they say.
The focus typically hones in on what you don't have, and make no mistake, center is an important piece to the puzzle. Experience matters; it's not coincidence Clemson has gone with junior and senior starters at the position since 2014.
Hunter Rayburn was in line to be the first redshirt sophomore or younger to regularly do so since Ryan Norton (2013). But our sense is the Tigers wanted to squeeze another level of bite from him this month, and that has not yet gone according to plan.
Four-star true freshman Marcus Tate still appears to be on the fast track to early playing time 10 practices into camp. (Tigerillustrated.com)
Hence incumbent left guard Matt Bockhorst has logged the majority of first-team snaps, which hasn't necessarily been the panacea.
There are other variables upon which Clemson's offensive success depends. Even if freshman Marcus Tate gets plugged in at left guard, there are no guarantees the Tigers' interior trio improves its push up front.
D.J. Uiagalelei has some accuracy inconsistencies to work through and will have his mettle tested amid growing pains or a 2-minute drill along the way. Clemson isn't short on coveted bodies at receiver, yet most bear a question mark as well. So many new faces in new places translates into an offensive identity yet to form.
That said, every team has holes or blemishes.
And you can count on one hand the number who wouldn't trade personnel and eagerly go into this next month armed with Uiagalelei, Justyn Ross, Will Shipley, Kobe Pace et al.
Clemson has avoided any camp injury to date that has changed the offense's complexion.
There's a lot still to come together for this unit. But a lot to like with the ingredients. -- PAUL STRELOW
That's quite the nugget unearthed from Paul about Clemson having not started a redshirt sophomore or younger at center since 2013.
You also have to go back almost that long to find the last time an opener created as much apprehension as this one on Sept. 4.
That would be the home-and-home with Georgia in 2013 and 2014.
Yes, Clemson has had some early-season showdowns during this spectacular run. Texas A&M in 2019 and 2018. Auburn in 2017 and 2016.
But none like this. Georgia is a bona-fide heavyweight (none of the aforementioned opponents were in that class). It's the opener (only Auburn in 2016 was the first game). And it's Georgia (you could argue there's no other program out there Clemson fans despise more at the moment).
Mix all those ingredients into a bowl and you get a stew of rare urgency when it comes to assessing the capabilities of a gifted-but-still-reconstituted offense.
Every year, Tony Elliott says finding an offensive identity is a process as he stresses various players and learns how they respond under the constant camp duress of installation against Brent Venables' defense.
41-year old Tony Elliott has been an assistant coach at Clemson since 2011, taking over as offensive coordinator in 2015. (Tigerillustrated.com)
When the first opponent is Wake Forest, Georgia Tech, Furman or Kent State, that annual formative process is a relative footnote because the margin for error when the lights come on is usually as wide as Lake Hartwell. Against those tomato cans, growing pains aren't painful and it's basically like a preseason game.
One important and perhaps even comforting caveat that we've mentioned recently: Georgia's fans should (and do) have the same angst about how their offense is going to perform against Clemson's defense. Numerous injuries at receiver have them wondering whether they'll be sufficiently dynamic in the passing game right out of the gates. And though Georgia might be more talented than Clemson on the offensive line, there are still big questions there too.
But back to Clemson, we know that the interior offensive line was the biggest weakness on the team last year. And we know that the interior defensive line is the strength of Georgia's team. They are big, nasty and deep. There's just no way around apprehension about that matchup.
The idea of Matt Bockhorst at center sounds good and all as the staff tries to go with the best five, but it's worth noting that Bockhorst got pushed around a lot last year. His injuries last year are important context, and maybe he indeed is a different player now that he's had surgery. Maybe this offensive line will indeed be much different in 2021 now that they are healthier and have better depth.
Their long-term trajectory does appear pointed up, no doubt. But there's that short-term obstacle in Charlotte that tends to shape our current view of this offense and its evolution. -- LARRY WILLIAMS
Tigerillustrated.com will release part 2 (defense) later today.
FROM THE TIGER FAN SHOP: Click HERE for more DEALS on officially-licensed CLEMSON apparel and gear!
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